| Project by RGtools | posted 644 days ago | 1062 views | 0 times favorited | 10 comments |  |
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My wife recently started wanting to make hats. A hat block, shaped roughly like someones head is very useful for this endeavor. I found this wood in my shop from thing Grampa left over, it was finger jointed all over the place but you could very easily get short lengths of it. It looks like oak but it’s soft enough to dent with a thumnail (and I am told the a bet of give on a hat block is easier on needles). The wood just invites hand tools to shape it. I could do just about anything I pleased in any direction without breaking it apart (except when I meant to and it broke the way I wanted).
This was a very fun few hours with handplanes, drawknife, scrapers and a bit of sandpaper. One thing I was thankful I did: when I glued up the blank I left one piece about 4 inches overlong so I could very easily clamp that in my vise or in a hand-screw that was then clamped in my vice. This made fairing the curve with a drawknife much easier.
I look forward to making more. My wife had already put this one to use.
Simple oil and wax finish. The end grain soaked it up.
-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan
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10 comments so far
StumpyNubs
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5021 posts in 966 days
#1 posted 643 days ago
dude- you gotta keep the workshop door shut- birds keep flying in and landing on your projects!
-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com
Don W
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9932 posts in 733 days
#2 posted 643 days ago
hmmm, a block head. I’ve known a few. Is that what you call “putting a feather in your cap”?
-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)
RGtools
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2829 posts in 820 days
#3 posted 643 days ago
Don-I knew someone would do the blockhead pun it was only a matter of time.
Stumpy you always crack me up.
On a personal note I have decided to make a lot more of these, there are infinite variations to play around with and the challenge should be fun to blog about…and my wife didn’t bat an eye when I said I needed a few hundred bucks for some carving tools.
-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan
Don W
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9932 posts in 733 days
#4 posted 643 days ago
wow, a reason to buy tools and permission to boot. Got to love that project.
-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)
mafe
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8055 posts in 1255 days
#5 posted 643 days ago
You have a lucky wife, with a wonderful hobby.
Best thoughts,
Mads
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
RGtools
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2829 posts in 820 days
#6 posted 643 days ago
We are very lucky to be well matched in our passions. I look forward to when she makes me a fedora. People should start wearing hats again in America.
How has your grumpy steed been treating you?
-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan
mafe
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8055 posts in 1255 days
#7 posted 643 days ago
I wear hats always and have done so for years, but heck I’m born off beat…
Is the grumpy steed my fionce or my shaving horse? Both treat me nice!
Big smile.
Mads
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
RGtools
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2829 posts in 820 days
#8 posted 643 days ago
I wanted to make that joke, but I decided against it for politeness sake. Great minds think alike.
Hats are wonderful, though I get strange looks when I wear them.
Grinning here too.
Ryan
-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan
Don W
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9932 posts in 733 days
#9 posted 643 days ago
I’m a hat wearer. Its easier than combing my hair.
-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)
RGtools
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2829 posts in 820 days
#10 posted 642 days ago
I just shave it off.
-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan
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